Ford Bronco vs Honda HR-V

Unlike some SUVs that only look as though they were designed to excel in the dirt, the 2025 Ford Bronco delivers the goods. It’s more comfortable on streets and highways than the Jeep Wrangler, and offers buyers a wide range of variants.

Verdict: Consider carefully how you plan to use your car day-in and day-out before deciding to buy a new Bronco. While the 2025 Bronco is an extremely fun beast that’s a blast to play with on-road and off, it requires some serious compromises to use as a daily driver, and it's hardly a bargain.

Available in three trim levels equipped with an underpowered engine and optional all-wheel drive (AWD), the HR-V is an unremarkable subcompact SUV. A refresh for the 2026 model year adds an improved standard infotainment system and minor styling and interior modifications, but nothing that addresses this model’s primary shortcomings. The changes include a larger touchscreen with faster response times, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and wireless smartphone charging.

Verdict: Simply put, the 2026 Honda HR-V is not one of the best subcompact SUVs. It is dreadfully slow and disappointingly inefficient, and it barely meets the minimum technological expectations of the young people who might want to buy it. Plus, it demonstrates none of the innovation seen in the original HR-V and in some competitors in the small SUV segment.